Call him a rapper or a revolutionary, Ye aka Kanye West fits every promising title. While normalcy may not be his pick to reign over the music industry, one thing Mr. West never really fails to do is make the most of his fans’ emotional resonance. Having been a force of nature of the golden age of hip-hop, Ye’s discography is a testimony of his power play through the decades. As fans anticipate his unfinished ‘Vultures’ series and the buzz surrounding ‘Bully’ builds, Ye’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ remains timeless, still reigning over playlists 14 years after its release. 

To honor its legacy, here is the ultimate ranking of its top 10 tracks.

You could fill volumes documenting Ye’s contributions to hip-hop, but fair warning; it still would not do justice to the full scope of his genius. ‘Hell of a Life’ from ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ dives into the excess and decadence artists face in the spotlight, reflecting on the highs and the lows of fame.

The track peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs and was hailed as an influence by numerous high-profile rappers. While it did not dominate the top of the charts, it played a pivotal role in normalizing introspective and emotive hip-hop—a realm where Ye continues to shine.

Each track from ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ serves as a special dictation and illustration of the themes Ye made his focus. ‘Blame Game’ reached #2 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs. Featuring John Legend and Chris Rock, ‘Blame Game’ elates relationship complexities, with a special focus on heartbreak and betrayal.

The track incorporates symphonic elements of soul and jazz, tapping the power of genre-blending collaborations. Rock’s comedic monologue adds the extra layer to the surprise mechanism that Ye expertise in, showcasing his out-of-the-box genius production style.

‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is an emotionally charged record that earned widespread acclaim with 94% on Metacritic, declared the Album of the Year (2010) by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. ‘Lost in the World’ featuring Bon Iver reached the second position on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop. The track influenced subsequent hip-hop releases, delving into disconnection and isolation in artistic avenues.

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By utilizing vocal processing, the track remains one of the best to emerge from the Atlanta rapper’s coattails.

‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is not only a record for divulging the spirits of non-conformity and artistic turbulence. It is as much a testimony of the fork-struck roads artists conquer navigating the spaces of self-discovery and transformation. While hip-hop icons often resort to personal commentary, Ye tapped into a social commentary with ‘Gorgeous’ featuring Kid Cudi and Raekwon, defamiliarizing beauty and ugliness by deep diving into classist mechanisms of the industry.

Seen as a contribution to the resurgence of atmospheric hip-hop, ‘Gorgeous’ reached the summit of US Billboard Hot Rap Songs and was featured on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 

Ye’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ was a walking record-breaking machine, whereby each track was out to outshine the rest. ‘Devil in a New Dress’ featuring Rick Ross becomes one of those reflective tracks of the album that delves into opposing tropes like materialism and self-awareness.

The track was a Billboard topper on the Hot Rap Songs chart, and certified triple platinum by RIAA for selling over 3 million copies. While many tracks made a case for Ye’s legendary production appeal, this song cemented him as a storyteller.

Similar to the other record-shattering tracks from ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,’ ‘So Appalled’ solidified Ye’s trailblazing artistry. This track features Jay-Z, Swizz Beats, Pusha T, CyHi the Prynce, and RZA, and deeply explores the themes inherent in the record.

With a special focus on the idealized, quintessential American Dream, ‘So Appalled’ is a lyrical masterpiece addressing fame, and wealth. A part of Ye’s ‘G.O.O.D. Friday series, the track reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs Chart, complemented by being certified platinum by RIAA for selling over 1 million units.

The ‘Vultures’ series may have brought a promising lineup of collaborators to join forces with Ye. But the potential in the trend of collaboration was reckoned by him long back, precisely 14 years ago. ‘Monster’ featuring Jay_Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and Bon Iver is the perfect example of such musical brilliance, nearly matching the records set by ‘All of the Lights.’

Certified triple platinum by RIAA, it soared to #1 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs and topped the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. What sets the track apart is the unique, pulsating synthesizer riff infused with industrial and electro elements.

Mr. West supported ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ with back-to-back track records. ‘All of the Lights,’ the fifth track from the Billboard 200 debut, rightfully earns the third spot—not just for the accolades it racked up but also for the star power it packed into its release with Diddy, Fergie, and Rihanna.

‘All of the Lights’ broke the record for the most artists featured on a single song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song simultaneously featured 10 Billboard charts, including Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and Hot Rap Songs.

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With a Grammy and BET recognition of its name, ‘All of the Lights’ brought a cultural influence with countless citations, remixes, parodies, and covers.

Ye’s power play with ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ was marked by a departure from the familiar with an unfamiliar aesthetic by blending soul, pop, baroque, electronic, progressive rock, and symphonic sound elements. One of the tracks upholding all those virtues is ‘Power,’ a catchy, tribal-inspired anthem with an unforgettable hook.

The song became the most streamed song in a single week on Spotify, and the fastest track to reach a million digital sales alone in the US. But the real crown jewel it wore on its head was for snagging the title of the highest Billboard US debut on the Hot 100 for a song without any commercial radio airplay.

In Mr. West’s ever-expansive discography, ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is the fifth studio album. Snagging the top spot is ‘Runaway’ featuring Pusha T, a standout hit from the album with serious drama and depth. Accompanied by a visually striking short film, the track’s haunting piano riff became legendary.

At over 8 minutes, it is the longest song to crack the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 and scored a trifecta, charting on the Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and Hot Rap Songs, all at the same time. With 5 MTV VMA nods, it snagged Video of the Year, a Grammy for Best Music Video to make space on his illustrious Grammy shelf, and a BET honor. 

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Which is your favorite track from Ye's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'? Let us know in the comments below!